IBM To Sell Specially Configured iPhones And iPads To Enterprise Clients
Uh oh, BlackBerry -- with some help from IBM, it looks like Apple is making a play for the enterprise market with its mobile devices. Starting this fall, IBM is planning to partner exclusively with Apple to sell iPhone and iPad devices pre-loaded with native applications developed from the ground up specifically for enterprise customers.
The initiative is called IBM MobileFirst for iOS. It combines IBM's big data and analytic capabilities with Apple's consumer experience, along with its hardware and software integration and developer platform. The two envision creating apps that will transform the iPhone and iPad from content consumption devices into real working tools for business users.
"iPhone and iPad are the best mobile devices in the world and have transformed the way people work with over 98 percent of the Fortune 500 and over 92 percent of the Global 500 using iOS devices in their business today," said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. "For the first time ever we’re putting IBM’s renowned big data analytics at iOS users’ fingertips, which opens up a large market opportunity for Apple. This is a radical step for enterprise and something that only Apple and IBM can deliver."
This is a deep offering for enterprise customers that not only includes custom and exclusive apps, but mobile service and support -- AppleCare for Enterprise will provide IT departments and end users with around-the-clock support.
News of the partnership sent BlackBerry's stock price on a mini downward spiral, which fell around 4.5 percent.
The initiative is called IBM MobileFirst for iOS. It combines IBM's big data and analytic capabilities with Apple's consumer experience, along with its hardware and software integration and developer platform. The two envision creating apps that will transform the iPhone and iPad from content consumption devices into real working tools for business users.
"iPhone and iPad are the best mobile devices in the world and have transformed the way people work with over 98 percent of the Fortune 500 and over 92 percent of the Global 500 using iOS devices in their business today," said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. "For the first time ever we’re putting IBM’s renowned big data analytics at iOS users’ fingertips, which opens up a large market opportunity for Apple. This is a radical step for enterprise and something that only Apple and IBM can deliver."
This is a deep offering for enterprise customers that not only includes custom and exclusive apps, but mobile service and support -- AppleCare for Enterprise will provide IT departments and end users with around-the-clock support.
News of the partnership sent BlackBerry's stock price on a mini downward spiral, which fell around 4.5 percent.
